One of the most difficult things to talk about with your child is suicide.
Understandably.....It brings up lots of emotions for you and your child.

But you CAN DO THIS.

Talking to your child about suicide will not put the idea in their head.
For most teens it is already in there.

Asking these questions can open a window into their world, create a bridge for further communication, and a sustain their connection to their most important lifeline- YOU.

The questions on the right are the  6 question screener form of the CSSRS- The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.  The CSSRS is an evidenced based assessment for suicide that medical and mental health care professionals use daily. 

Anyone can ask these questions.  You can simply read off the questions to help you ask your child or someone you love if they are having sucidal thoughts.

This is free and can be used by anyone.

The full CSSRS can be found here and is free and available for you.  https://cssrs.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/C-SSRS_Pediatric-SLC_11.14.16.pdf

The Know Better- Ask Your Child form on the left are the questions that I ask as a screener for all of my patients . These are the questions I ask and the words I use. If the CSSRS questions do not feel natural to you, you can use the questions I ask my patients every day below to assess for risk in your own child, or even ask your own.

How you ask is a skill and an art, that has taken me over a decade to perfect.

But as a parent who wants to ensure their child is safe,  for now,  it doesn't matter how you ask.

Just ask.

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